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Sermons
Welcome to Rimutaka Baptist sermons. Join us for Worship Services every Sunday at 10 AM. We upload the sermons to YouTube by 5:30 PM Sunday evenings for those who are unable to make it to church. All our sermons are available for viewing on our YouTube channel, but you can also click on the videos included in the sermon blog posts below.
This Sunday join us as we look at the Creation story through the lens of the Kingdom life. We can only begin to believe in the Blessed be’s if we know they are grounded in the Let it be’s of the Creation story.
Today we celebrate Carey Sunday. For over 95 years, Carey has helped to form men and women for ministry. John writes for many of us the last two years have felt at times like a wilderness. Perhaps, like the people of Israel in exile, you have felt displaced, discouraged, disoriented, disillusion and doubtful. In IsaiahContinue reading “2022-07-31 Sermon – God is doing a New Thing”
In this final instalment in the series on Jesus’ sermon on the mount in Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7, Jesus commands us to enter by the narrow Gate, but to watch out for false prophets and false disciples. And in His closing parable in this awesome sermon, Jesus shows us how to build ourContinue reading “2022-07-24 Sermon – Enter but Watch Out!”
This week we continue our sermon series of Jesus’ teachings in Matthew chapters 6 and 7. We learn that in order to maintain healthy relationships we need to learn to first look at ourselves before we judge others. This doesn’t mean that all judgment is wrong, this is where discernment comes in. Discernment is theContinue reading “2022-07-17 Sermon – Judging Well”
In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus tells us not to spend our life worrying, but rather to seek Him first. God knows what we need and will supply our needs provided we keep our trust in Him. Let us not be like the people Ezekiel spoke to God about in Ezekiel 33:32, who see God as nothingContinue reading “2022-07-10 Sermon – Do Not Worry”
This Sunday we continue to look at the intimate relationship we have with God in our hearts. This secret place where we continue to work out our faiths. What amazing discoveries are to be found if only we allow God to be at work within us and spend time with Him there.
A kingdom heart understands that it is better to find our worth in God, and not in man. So whether we do good to the needy or whether we are praying to God, a kingdom heart does this with the truth of God in mind, and does not fall into the trap of self-adoration.
This Sunday we put into practice all we have been learning together about life in the Kingdom by discerning together what God is saying in the remainder of Matthew 5: Oaths, Retaliation and Love of Enemy. We found that God helps us to faithfully navigate these difficulties of life.
In Proverbs 17:3 we read: “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.” Join us as we read a children’s story based on this wonderful proverb. The name of the story is “Jebb and the Heartsmith”, and it is written by Rudolf Coetsee.
What does the Kingdom life have to say to us when we mourn? God has a response to all of our life situations even the difficult ones. Join us this morning as we unpack how God comforts and what we can do to seek it from Him.
This Sunday we look at Jesus’ teaching on marriage and divorce. We continue to learn what to do in real life circumstances if we are to have a righteousness that is greater than the Pharisees and the Scribes.
This Sunday we look at anger and what part it has to play in Kingdom life. God like us experiences anger but the difference is His is righteous. Today we learn how to look at our anger from a more Godly perspective and how the Holy Spirit can help us to learn how to copeContinue reading “2022-05-22 Sermon – Anger”
This Sunday we continue our series into Jesus’ lessons on the Kingdom. This time on having greater righteousness than the Pharisees and the scribes of the Law. What did He mean and how we instill this lesson in ourselves personally and corporately as the Church?
This Sunday we continue on with our sermon series on Kingdom living. This time looking at the lessons of Jesus regarding Salt and Light. Blessed are we who are salt and light in the world.
This Sunday we continue on in our sermon series looking at life in the Kingdom. This time we look at the greatest sermon Jesus ever told. Learn how the beatitudes are a map for Kingdom life.
He is risen! For the disciples, the resurrection of Jesus was unexpected and they did not know how to react to it. Let us consider the different reactions recorded in Luke 24, and how this might apply to our very own, personal response to Jesus’ resurrection this Easter.
The Kingdom life is a reality for all who believe in Jesus and we don’t have to wait for Heaven to begin to live in it. Our world is God breathed and God bathed, the Kingdom is all around us. We need to throw off the mind of the flesh and put on the mindContinue reading “2022-04-10 Sermon – Reside in the Kingdom”
This Sunday we continue our Lenten sermon series looking at life in the Kingdom. This time we look at John 10 and the story of the Shepherd and the Sheep in the fold. What does the Kingdom look like in a practical sense and how can we make sure we are looking out for theContinue reading “2022-04-03 Sermon – In the Fold”
This Sunday we continue our Lenten sermon series by looking once again at how to live a Kingdom life. This time we focus on what it means to rule over a portion of the Kingdom. Join me for some royal training!
Welcome to church online this morning where we focus more closely on the life of Jesus as we continue our Lenten journey. Jesus’ life and death have much to teach us. So today we begin by looking at how we should perceive ourselves and engage in the world around us as we lead a kingdomContinue reading “2022-03-19 Sermon – Mirror Image”
This Sunday we look at the final chapter in the prophetic book of Joel. We have much to learn from the words spoken to the Nations and can be encouraged by the blessing offered to the people of God.
Today is the first Sunday of Lent. We continue our sermon series in Joel by looking at God’s response to His peoples’ lament in Joel Chapter 2. It is also communion Sunday so be sure to have your supplies ready.
This Sunday we start a new sermon series in the prophetic book of Joel. Joel helps us to process all we are feeling as we face hard times. Stay tuned to find out what Locusts and Lament have in common.
It is not wrong for the people of God to long for His return! While we may not know the time, there are things the Bible speaks about that can indicate when the time is near. Today we unpack Paul’s teaching on this subject to the Thessalonians.
This Sunday we look at what steps we can take in response to God’s faithfulness, especially when we, the people of God are under a time of pressure. We are living in a physically challenging time but that doesn’t mean we should neglect our spiritual health.
This Sunday we look at some of the characteristics of the nature of God. By knowing God we are able to be in a better relationship with Him. We are able to connect with who He is rather then some construct we have put together. When we do that the personal relationship we have withContinue reading “2022-02-06 Sermon – God and You”
In an ever changing world it is so important for Christians to enter into the rest of Christ. The pressures of life can cause us to act in ways that often are not Godly. How might God help us to navigate those times in a Godly way and with patient endurance.
If you were to picture the window of your soul, what would your view look like? These are challenging times we are living in. This Sunday we look at the faith journeys of two disciples on the road to Emmaus. What might their encounter with Jesus have to teach us? Join me as we findContinue reading “2022-01-23 Sermon – Window of the Soul”
Join us as we explore the beauty of Psalm 91. The Psalmist reassures us that we are under God’s protection when we make the Most High our dwelling-place. But how do we make God our dwelling place? A good place to start is to love God, to place all our trust in Him and toContinue reading “2022-01-02 Sermon – Safe with God”
It’s finally here! The day we celebrate the coming of Jesus at Christmas time. Christmas for many of us is a time to reminisce about our childhood, and as people of faith, a time to be reminded that it is Jesus who should have priority at Christmas and all the days that follow.
This Sunday we celebrate the fourth Sunday of Advent by looking at the theme of Love. We learn some interesting aspects of Godly Love that will help us to change our mindsets and lead us into living a more Kingdom life!
This Sunday we celebrate the third Sunday in Advent by lighting the Joy candle. Today we focus on the joy felt by the Shepherds and observe the haste with which they left everything behind to seek out the Messiah. What are the ways in which we can keep our eyes on Jesus this Christmas?
This Sunday we celebrate the second Sunday in Advent – Peace. God’s peace is so unlike the peace that the world offers, how can we grasp the peace that the Prince of Peace gives especially during the storms of life.
This Sunday we celebrate the first Sunday in Advent – Hope. We are just as in need of God’s hope today as the people of God were back then. One thing that is different is that we know God fulfilled His promises with Jesus and because of that we have everything to hope for inContinue reading “2021-11-28 Sermon – Hope”
This Sunday we look at the spiritual disciple of submission and how it can help us navigate the complex issues of our day. God’s word is alive and active and able to inform our way ahead at any time and so we must submit, first and foremost to His way and then let that influenceContinue reading “2021-11-21 Sermon – Submission”
This Sunday, we focus on another spiritual disciple – “Sabbath.” Instituted by God, Sabbath is something that should be of utmost important to us. It is a time to put God first and rest in His presence from our labours, worries and fears.
This morning we continue on with our sermon series looking at the spiritual disciplines. In particular Act 2, where we see the disciples learning, fellowshipping together, breaking bread and praying. How might we make this a part of our lives.
The Sunday we start a new sermon series on the spiritual disciplines. In recent weeks we have been covering Prayer and Self Denial and so it seemed appropriate to begin with prayer and prayer as the Lord Jesus taught us.
This week we look at the last theme of NZBMS’ Prayer and Self-Denial appeal, “The Mordecai Movement.” So very pertinent in our time I think. What injustices are we called to stand up for, for the sake of the Kingdom?
Just a quick note to say there will be no videos for the next two weeks as our video editor takes a break. This Sunday, we begin our engagement with NZBMS’s Prayer and Self-Denial appeal. The mission of God is all around us, but often we lose our focus on what God is doing andContinue reading “2021-10-03 Sermon – Prayer and Self Denial – Part One”
This Sunday we come to the end of our sermon series in 1 Peter where we see firefighters have a lot in common with Christian’s in the midst of fiery ordeals as Peter calls it. We look at how spiritual maturity and spiritual disciplines can help us to become strong and resilient in the faith.
This Sunday, we continue on with our sermon series in 1 Peter by looking at chapter four. Here we learn that all the sub-calls within our grand “call” to be a Christian result in a life lived for God. Stay tuned for an image filled look at what it means to live an embodied SpiritualContinue reading “2021-09-19 Sermon – Living for God”
This Sunday we continue in our sermon series in 1 Peter by looking at Chapter 3. Here Peter unpacks what behaviours aught to characterise Christian relationships as we move closer to Jesus.
This Sunday we continue with Peter’s first letter by looking at the remainder of Chapter 2. In particular we will focus on the call to submit and the call to suffer which we find in the example of a slave’s relationship with his or her master. How might following Jesus help us to resolve theContinue reading “2021-09-05 Sermon – The Call”
This Sunday we continue our sermon series in 1 Peter by learning what it means to be a Christian who lives in the world but is not of the world. Peter gives us some real practical advice on how we can live in the freedom and contradictions as sojourners in the land.
This week as we have church online we continue to look at 1 Peter. This time the first part of chapter two tells us we need to seek pure spiritual milk so that we can grown in salvation for we are God’s chosen people, a Holy Priesthood.
Today we celebrated Rimutaka Baptist’s 60th Anniversary! God has been faithful and we are very grateful. The sermon is based on 1 Peter 1, where we read about the incredible Living Hope we have in Christ.
In this week’s sermon, we answer the following questions raised by the Rimutaka Baptist Church congregation: 1. Did Adam and Eve have bellybuttons? 2. Why does God allow pain, suffering and injustice in the world? 3. What does it mean to pray in the Spirit, and how does this differ from normal prayer?
This Sunday we come to the grand finale of Ephesians. Paul’s letter closes with a wonderful description of how we can fight the battles of the Faith. Join me as we dive deep into the meaning behind this wonderful and informative set of verses.
This week we continue on in our sermon series in Ephesians by looking at what a day in the life of a Christian Soldier might look like before we put on our armor. Our minds and hearts must be focused on Christ. We need to know who we are and how to fight so thatContinue reading “2021-07-11 Sermon – A day in the life of a Christian Soldier”
This Sunday we continue on in our sermon series by looking at part one of Chapter 4. Paul urges us to live a life worth of the calling you have received. We are going to learn that our well-being and well-doing are connected and that if we focus on these two areas in our faithContinue reading “2021-07-04 Sermon – Well-Being and Well-Doing”
This week we continue our sermon series in Ephesians and look at chapter 3. Here we see that Paul’s weakness is what qualifies him to preach the gospel. Paul’s weakness contrasted with the power of God is what proves his message to be authentic. This same power dwells in us, building us up in ChristContinue reading “2021-06-26 Sermon – What Dwells Within”
This Sunday we continue to look at Ephesians 1 and 2. Last week, we learnt how important it is to find our identity in Christ, to leave behind the old way of living for the rich new royal life we have inherit through Christ. Today we discuss how we can come together as individuals toContinue reading “2021-06-20 Sermon – Remember to Re-Member”
Today we begin a new sermon series in Ephesians. To begin with, Paul wants the Ephesians to know who they are. Their identity is now in Christ, they have a rich inheritance, empowered by God to be His people and His Church.
We continue on in our sermon series in Colossians by looking at Paul’s instructions to households. We look first at the historical context which will then help us to discern what learnings we should apply in our modern context.
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12 July 2020 In the Gospel of John, chapter 7, Jesus goes up to Jerusalem to attend the festival of Tabernacles. But He does not travel with His brothers. He goes up in His own time, travelling alone because He knows the Father will always be at His side and He has in mind the timing of God, not of man. Join us as we discern the lessons we can learn from Jesus in this chapter. Let us choose to journey with Jesus, and prioritize God’s will and His schedule above that of the world, so we can also be Unhurried and Unafraid.
5 July 2020 In the gospel of John, chapter 6, we read the popular account of the miraculous Feeding of the Five Thousand, followed by Jesus’ teaching on the Bread of Life. Join us today as we discover the meaning of Jesus’ teaching together, using our “Son” glasses to discern the spiritual truths in this passage.
28 June 2020 This week we look at the Gospel of John chapter 5:18-47. Jesus answers the accusations by the Jewish leaders that He was breaking the Sabbath and making Himself equal to God. We look at the ways in which Jesus illustrates that the Son is like the Father.
21 June 2020 This Sunday we compare and contrast the healing of the lame man at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-17) to that of the blind man in John chapter 9. What are the similarities and differences in these two healing events? Although Jesus extends the same love and grace to both men, the one has an open heart towards believing in Jesus while the other one’s heart was blind. Join us today as we consider what we can learn from these two remarkable events.
14 June 2020 In this week’s sermon we see how different people respond to Jesus. We want to be people who respond to Jesus in praise because of who He is, not only because of what He does for us. We want to be people that take Jesus at His Word. (John 4:43-54)
7 June 2020 A Samaritan woman encounters Jesus at a well. She finds a man who knows everything about her life, and Jesus declares to her that He is the Messiah. We learn what it means to worship in spirit and in truth, and how we should all own our own faith. Join us today in celebrating the Lord’s supper after the sermon.
31 May 2020 This week we look at the final portion of the Gospel of John chapter 3. In verses 22 to 36, John testifies again about Jesus. We can learn much from John’s ministry; Repentance, Following Jesus in Obedience, and finally, letting Jesus Lead the way, we can echo the words of John in verse 30; “He must become greater; I must become less” as we journey towards our final goal; Eternal life in Christ Jesus.
24 May 2020 We continue with our journey through the Gospel of John this week. Join us as we look at Jesus’ remarkable dialogue with Nicodemus, a Pharisee and leader of the Jews.
17 May 2020 Continuing with our sermon series on the Gospel of John, this Sunday we read the account of Jesus clearing the temple courts (John 2:13-25). This account has profound significance for us today, both in our individual faith journeys as disciples, and also corporately as members of the Church, the body of Christ.
10 May 2020 The fourth installment of our series on the Gospel of John brings us to the account of the Wedding at Cana. Join Jesus and His mother for an event that will change the course of history. The symbolism is vast and still pertinent for us today.
3 May 2020 As we continue our journey through the Gospel of John, we look at the last part of Chapter 1, where the disciples have their first encounter with Jesus. The similarities between their stories and ours are remarkable. Join us as we share communion together at the end of the sermon.
26 April 2020 This Sunday we continue with our sermon series on the Gospel of John. In John 1:19-34, the emphasis is on John the Baptist’s testimony about Jesus. But just who is John the Baptist, and what can we learn from him as believers today?
19 April 2020 This week we begin a new sermon series on the gospel of John. We begin with a heavenly announcement that reveals Jesus as the Word, eternally existing with the Father, and who was made flesh and dwelt among us, bringing His life, light, grace and truth to humanity.
13 April 2020 This Sunday, we look at the resurrection experiences from the perspectives of Mary, Peter and John. May they inspire us and encourage us in our own walk of faith.
10 April 2020 This Good Friday, join us in the garden as we encounter Jesus in the final hours of freedom before the cross. May the story of Easter impact each and every one of us afresh. and inspire us to follow in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ.
5 April 2020 Welcome to Holy Week. In this week’s sermon, we focus on events leading up to and including the Last Supper. Join us for communion during the service.
29 March 2020 This Sunday we begin our journey to Easter. Reading from Mark 11:1-14, we look at Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and the extraordinary incident of the cursing of the fig tree. What is the meaning behind these events? Laurie explains the cultural and historical underpinnings that can enrich our understanding of these events in the life of our King and Saviour, Jesus.
22 March 2020 This is the final sermon in our series on Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians. In 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28, Paul provides final instructions to the Thessalonians on how to live as disciples of Jesus while they await the Lord’s return. He deals with practical ways in which we can love our neighbors and also how we can love God.
15 March 2020 In this sermon, Laurie talks about Paul’s first letter to the church in Thessalonica. The scripture reading is from 1 Thessalonians 4:13 to 5:11. Paul encourages the church to comfort each other with the coming of the Lord and to walk in hope.
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